Excerpt: ‘The Peoples’ money’: Hardship payments of $2,000 per adult, $600 for children OK’d, By Rima Krisst and Krista Allen, The Navajo Times, Jan 6, 2022
“Checks ranging from $600 to $2,000 will land in mailboxes of Diné citizens – soon. Surrounded by division directors inside the president’s office, President Jonathan Nez signed the Navajo Nation Council resolution (CD-62-21), which approves $557 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for Hardship Assistance to about 250,000 Diné citizens.
Navajo Pres Nez and VP Lizer approving $557 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for hardship assistance, Navajo Times | Krista Allen
T’áá Dinék’ehjígo, Nez said, ‘The Nation received over $2 billion from the U.S. Treasury. We’ve allocated $557 million for Hardship Assistance, for our people.’Nez added the payment checks would help families who are struggling, among other things.
‘Use this money wisely, please, my relatives,’ he said. ‘Buy things you need on our Nation. Yes, we have some of our people who are living off of the Nation and they cannot return home. Please, put some money away for later use. We are still amid a pandemic. Please prepare for possible infection.’
Delegates who played major roles in the passage of the resolution are, left to right, Nathaniel Brown, Eugenia Charles-Newton and Amber Kanazbah. Navajo Times
Nez said there will be some remaining funds of the $2.1 billion, and that will go toward other needs of the Nation such as broadband, water and wastewater projects, and powerlines…Dá’deest?’in Hótsaa Delegate Paul Begay applauded Nez for signing the resolution that the 24-member Council pushed for their constituents.
‘The Hardship Assistance belongs to the people,’ Begay said in an interview with the Times. ‘They (the Diné) wanted it. We’re in the middle of the winter. They need funds right now to make it through the winter season.’
Begay added that he knows many Diné families across Diné Bikéyah need food and water to survive the below zero temperatures. He is encouraging people to put some of their funds away for a rainy day…So, when are people receiving checks?
Jared Touchin, spokesman for the president’s office, said there will be a townhall tomorrow evening to provide more information about the Hardship Assistance, including the process, timeline, and questions will be answered.”
